A soft breeze billows in from the northwest, brushing against the edge of morning. The clouds hang low, heavy with quiet intention, obscuring the distant coastline. It is that suspended hour when the day has begun but has not yet declared itself. Light arrives slowly. Not in beams, but in a diffusion. A pale gold slipping through layers of blue. Six figures gather in silence. They are arranged as if by instinct rather than design, each turned toward the east, toward an unseen

The evening mist threaded itself through the silhouettes of cypress, softening their edges until they felt less like trees and more like sentinels keeping quiet watch. The air carried salt and something older, something earthen, as if the dunes themselves had exhaled. The path beneath me was uneven, dusted with sand that seemed to migrate inland by instinct rather than wind. Each step felt guided, not directed, as though the landscape had quietly decided I would arrive exactl

In this intimate conversation, Nicole Cromwell reflects on her journey from critical care nurse to artist, revealing how years at the bedside shaped her deeply calming visual language. Set within her Su Vecino Courtyard gallery, she shares how color, texture, and her interactive journals offer pathways for reflection, healing, and emotional grounding.

T he afternoon sun spilled across the stone walls, catching on succulents, ice plant, and the textured bark of cypress trees surrounding the historic Quock Mui House. Light moved like a slow tide across the courtyard, revealing and concealing in equal measure. A gentle breeze carried salt air through the space as guests shuffled in, crossing an invisible line between the outside world and something more contemplative within. The house itself holds a layered past. Built in the

T he morning began the way Carmel prefers to introduce itself, gently, with a hush of wind and a shimmer of light that feels almost intentional. A soft breeze ruffled the leaves overhead, scattering shadows across the sidewalk like fleeting brushstrokes. Beneath them, a row of pastel sidecars gleamed in intermittent sunlight, their lacquered surfaces catching flashes of gold between branches. These particular sidecars, in hues of mint green, aqua blue, blush pink, and a vibra

In a hidden corner of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Tracie Zelei-Rossi transforms a quiet courtyard into Lucky Heart Cottage Court, a garden rooted in friendship, memory, and intention. What began as a shared vision becomes a living space of beauty and connection, where florals, form, and feeling come together to create something both deeply personal and quietly unforgettable.

A HAUS of HITE × Earth Cura Apothecary Collaboration There are moments when creation stops being an act of making and becomes an act of alignment. Eclipse  was born in that rare corridor where two creative forces align so precisely that something entirely new slips into the world. A linen, body, and room spray that is both grounding and electric, Eclipse is less a product and more a moment suspended in air. When light meets shadow, the atmosphere shifts. Birds quiet. Temperat

Cobalt walls. Sunlit zellige. The hum of Marrakech drifting through palms and cacti. Jardin Majorelle is more than a garden, it is a masterclass in how travel reshapes the designer’s eye. Discover how Morocco taught Yves Saint Laurent color and why stepping beyond our borders is essential to creating work that resonates, endures, and dares to see differently.

B efore sunrise, the sky begins to glow, a restrained illumination dissolving the last shadows of night. A rooster’s crow threads through the morning air, crisp and ceremonial, like an ancient bell echoing across stone and sea. It does not startle. It summons. A gentle herald announcing the arrival of another day along the Amalfi cliffs. Light begins its quiet procession into the room, spilling across the space in a delicate wash of Mediterranean blue tinged with pale gold. T

The Sausalito Buzz A signature sip from the Sausalito Guide Launch Party Every memorable evening has a rhythm. At the Sausalito Launch Party, that rhythm arrived in a coupe glass. The Sausalito Buzz , crafted by Deborah Wiegmann, set the tone from first pour to final toast. Bright citrus met soft florals, lifted by bubbles. The result was a cocktail that didn’t shout for attention, it lingered. Like Sausalito itself. More than refreshment, the Buzz added dimension to the room

C reating an event that feels alive and memorable takes more than just decoration. It requires a thoughtful design that connects guests to the place and the story behind the gathering. I recently had the chance to speak with Arielle Madilian , owner of The Marin Merchant , about her approach to design and how she shaped the atmosphere at the Sausalito Guide launch. Her insights reveal how small details and a deep understanding of place and people transform events into experi

Spring arrived in Sausalito not with fanfare, but with fragrance. On a luminous evening overlooking the harbor, where sail masts traced quiet lines against the sky and the hills softened into dusk, HAUS of HITE welcomed the community to celebrate the launch of The Sausalito Guide . Hosted in the Junto Room at Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa , the gathering unfolded like a carefully composed symphony of light, texture, sound, and story. From the first step inside , guests were met

T he bay announces itself before anything else. A soft cadence of water brushing against the pilings. The distant call of seabirds riding the afternoon air. A salt-laced breeze drifts upward from the water and follows you through the iron gate and glass doors of Inn Above Tide Sausalito , a boutique waterfront hotel perched directly above the bay. Tucked along the Sausalito shoreline, the property exists in quiet harmony with its surroundings. Here, the world slows, sound sof

By Jon Hite | Founder & Creative Director | HAUS of HITE I walked up the rock stairs, the crisp coastal air carrying the scent of salt...

By Jon Hite | Founder & Creative Director | HAUS of HITE Perfectly placed in the heart of Carmel , just steps from its fairy-tale...

In a town defined by charm and cloaked in history, Shirley Jensen has managed something remarkable—she's stayed not only present but...

By Jon Hite | Founder & Creative Director HAUS of HITE A s the HAUS of HITE guide to Carmel-by-the-Sea continues to grow, so too does my...

I first met Joaquin Turner  several years ago, while wandering the hidden alleyways of Carmel-by-the-Sea—the kind of meandering stroll...

By Jon Hite | Founder & Creative Director at HAUS of HITE I arrived in Florence as the late afternoon sun softened into gold, brushing...

By Jon Hite | Founder & Creative Director at HAUS of HITE The streets of Carmel were quiet that morning, filtered through mist and the...